"Senior Natsume, we'll leave you here."
"Up ahead, that cave—if you walk straight through, you'll quickly get across Mt. Moon."
The two researchers thought Natsume was just passing through. They escorted the group to the largest cave entrance, waved goodbye, and left.
"Natsume, can we stay here for a few days?"
Ash looked at him eagerly. He wanted to stay a while and challenge the Elite Four.
"Don't worry, I was planning to stay here for a bit anyway."
Natsume waved the badge in his hand toward Ash.
"I'll go find the person in charge here. Applying for a few rooms to stay in temporarily shouldn't be a problem."
"Um, guys, I think I hear someone calling for help in that cave over there."
Brock pointed at a smaller cave nearby.
"Huh? It does sound like it!"
Misty listened carefully and nodded.
"Let's go check it out."
Curious, Natsume led the way into the small cave.
Inside, the walls held only dim torches, barely lighting the ground.
"Natsume, why isn't this path electrified like the main tunnel? It's so dark with just torches."
Ash, careless as ever, nearly tripped.
"These aren't like the main tunnels. They weren't dug by people. Natural caves like this house many Pokémon, most of which fear the light."
"Oh, so that's why… but the ground is way too rough."
Ash scratched his head, looking troubled.
"You can hold Misty's hand. She's more careful."
"Oh."
"What are you doing!"
A lump rose on Ash's head.
Soon, they reached the depths of the cave. It was pitch-black, so Brock took out his flashlight.
"Help me!"
Natsume heard a familiar voice.
"Over there!"
Brock found the source. His flashlight revealed a researcher in a white lab coat, crouching on the ground with his head in his hands, papers scattered everywhere.
Above him, a swarm of bat-like Pokémon were attacking.
**Zubat: The Bat Pokémon. It flies using ultrasonic waves it emits. It usually hides in dark caves and rarely comes out.**
"This looks dangerous, Natsume—wait, where'd he go?"
Ash blinked. Natsume was gone.
"There."
Brock pointed. Natsume was crouched beside the researcher, carefully rummaging through a bag.
"Natsume, what are you doing?"
Ash peered curiously.
"I'm checking if there are Pokéballs inside holding Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur."
"Why would there definitely be Pokéballs with those three Pokémon in there?"
Misty leaned in, Brock close behind, both intrigued by Natsume's mysterious air.
"Stop chatting and save me first!"
That familiar voice called again, and now Natsume finally realized why it had sounded so familiar.
No starter Pokéballs turned up, but instead Natsume found the researcher's ID—Seymour's.
Sigh… why not Birch instead…
"Go, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—CHU!!"
A flash of lightning scattered the Zubat.
"Thank you so much! My name's Seymour. I'm—wait, Natsume-senpai, it's you!"
Seymour picked up his fallen glasses, and when he clearly saw everyone's faces, he was overjoyed.
"Natsume-senpai, my paper has already been sent to the League Academy. It's under initial review!"
"Well done."
Natsume wasn't surprised. Seymour's research direction leaned toward theory; all he lacked was Rotom for verification.
"Oh, right!" Seymour suddenly remembered something. "I listed Natsume-senpai as the co-author!"
For a moment, Natsume froze. Ash couldn't explain why, but he felt Natsume's expression looked just like Professor Oak's that night.
The stiffness passed quickly, and Natsume gave a small shake of his head.
Seymour's preparation was thorough. Since this was his graduation thesis, he had put in real effort—unlike the nonsense he had cobbled together that day. At the very least, it wouldn't be an embarrassment.
In fact, even as co-author, while not as significant as first author, if Seymour's paper was published in other journals, Natsume would also receive a share of the royalties.
If published in a top-tier journal, royalties ranged from 1 million to 10 million per month.
In a second-tier journal, about 500,000 to 2 million.
In a third-tier journal, roughly 100,000 to 1 million.
The exact amount depended on placement in the journal—less on the edges, more in central or highlighted sections.
Each year, Natsume's royalty income could reach close to a billion.
But that meant little, since this world's currency had purchasing power similar to yen.
And for his future *god-making* level laboratory, the facilities alone cost tens of millions at minimum.
Some machines even had single-use parts costing hundreds of thousands each time—those were the cheaper ones.
With his current income, even maintaining a future lab's yearly operation would be difficult.
Now, Seymour had given him an idea.
Yes—co-authors.
"You've done pretty well. How about joining me in the future?"
Natsume patted Seymour's shoulder, finding him more and more likable.
Co-authors also received royalties, though usually only a tenth of the first author's share.
But that was fine—Natsume could win by volume.
His head was bursting with ideas, but carrying them out alone was nearly impossible.
"Of course! Being able to work on projects with Natsume-senpai would be my honor!"
Seymour looked thrilled.
"Good. In a couple of years, I'll find a way to establish a research institute. You'll have to come then!"
Seymour froze. He had thought Professor Oak had given Natsume some project and he lacked manpower. But being invited into a future Professor's research institute was an incredible opportunity.
"Let's head out. This place feels eerie."
At the side, Misty timidly raised her hand with the suggestion.
"Ah, right. I'll take you to the summit. A temporary rest area is already being set up there."
Seymour took the flashlight Brock handed over and led the group ahead.
Mt. Moon's caves twisted and connected in all directions.
Guiding them through turns, Seymour soon brought them to the summit.
"Wow! The summit's this big—it looks like a lunar crater!"
Misty exclaimed in awe as they stepped out.
"And in the center—there's a huge rock!"
Ash's focus was clearly different from Misty's.
"That's a massive Moon Stone. I've been here a few times," Brock explained.
"Over there is the temporary rest area we've set up. I already spoke with the person in charge."
Seymour pointed at a cluster of container-like buildings in the distance.
Everyone nodded and started toward it, but Natsume stood still.
"Natsume-senpai, do you have instructions?"
Seymour turned toward him.
"Is there a temporary lab? I'd like to borrow it."
Natsume toyed with the Pokéball in his hand, speaking without looking back.
"Yes. Please follow me."
Seymour led Natsume to another area, where researchers were coming and going everywhere.
"Alright, I'll be borrowing this place for the night. I'll leave those kids in your care."
With that, Natsume closed the door to the temporary lab.
At the rest area, Seymour found Ash and the others, who had already set down their things and were preparing to stay the night.
Click—
Suddenly, a faint sound rang out, and the surroundings visibly dimmed.
"What's going on?"
They turned back and saw the lights below had gone out. Even the machines that had been running a moment ago had completely stopped.
"Oh, that's because Mt. Moon is home to a precious Clefairy colony. Nighttime is when they're most active, so we don't run any operations then."
Seymour smiled as he explained. "But don't worry, the power here won't be cut off. It won't affect much."
"Look over there."
He pointed toward a cave.
"Tonight's the full moon. The Clefairy will come out of that cave to hold a mysterious ceremony!"
Sure enough, just as he finished speaking, countless pink Pokémon with tiny wings on their backs began emerging from the cave.
**Clefairy, the Fairy Pokémon. Rare in number and very difficult to find.**
"They're rare Pokémon—so cute!"
Misty closed her Pokédex, her eyes sparkling. She had no resistance against such adorable Pokémon.
"It looks like they're gathering toward that giant Moon Stone," Brock said, watching the Clefairy's path with a trace of nostalgia.
"There's a legend in Pewter City—that these Clefairy came here aboard a spaceship, and that huge Moon Stone was a piece of it."
Meanwhile, Ash's mind was elsewhere. He turned to Seymour, unable to hold back his question:
"Mr. Seymour, who came from the Elite Four to Mt. Moon?"
"It—"
*Boom!*
Seymour's words were drowned out by a massive explosion. Everyone turned toward the cloud of smoke.
On top of the huge Moon Stone, at some point, a giant Meowth-shaped balloon had appeared.
From it, a huge net shot out, capturing both the Moon Stone and the Clefairy in one sweep.
"Oh no—it's Team Rocket!"
You can read more (around 50+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.